How long is Ja Morant suspended for? Exploring Grizzlies star's return timeline

Modified Jul 24, 2023 21:41 GMT

Memphis Grizzlies v Los Angeles Lakers - Game Six — How long is Ja Morant suspended for?

It will take some time before Ja Morant takes the court this upcoming season. Due to his off-the-court actions, the league had no choice but to hand him a hefty suspension.

Toward the end of the regular season, Ja Morant was seen flashing a gun on social media. Following this encounter, the Memphis Grizzlies suspended him for a handful of games.

A few months later, Morant was yet again seen holding a firearm while live on Instagram. This time, the NBA came down much harder on him. Now, the All-Star point guard is going to be sidelined for the first 25 games of this upcoing season.

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Fresh off a season where they finished second in the Western Conference, the Grizzlies will now be without their star player for months.

When will Ja Morant be back in the lineup for the Memphis Grizzlies?

Going off of last season's schedule, Ja Morant is going to be out of action for the first two months of the year. When the Memphis Grizzlies played their 25th game in 2023 it was on Dec. 7.

Luckily for the Grizzlies, they've made moves to prepare themselves for this suspension. In the offseason, they executed a trade with the Boston Celitcs to bring in Marcus Smart.

With Morant out of action to open the year, Smart will likely assume the role of starting point guard. They also have Desmond Bane who can take on more ballhandling duties.

Prior to the trade, Memphis might have had a tough time stay afloat with Morant out of action. Especially with Tyus Jones being moved to the Washington Wizards. However, now that Smart is in the mix, it might allow them to fill the void.

The main reason why the Grizzlies went and got Smart is for situations like this. As a young team ready to take the next step, it needs more adults in the locker room. Smart was the emotional leader for the Celtics, and now he'll be bringing that experience to the Grizzlies.

Along with being a mentor to young guards like Morant and Bane, he can also help teach this group how to win at the highest levels in the NBA.

About the author

Kevin McCormick is a basketball writer at Sportskeeda with over four years of experience in journalism and a bachelor's degree in Sports Management Marketing from Holy Family University.

Kevin has worked with various notable outlets throughout his career, including 97.3 ESPN, ClutchPoints, Heavy Sports, and Sports Illustrated/FanNation, before joining Sportskeeda in March 2022.

Specializing in NBA and WNBA coverage, Kevin's passion for basketball stems from his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers. Among his favorite players are Kevin Durant, Chet Holmgren, and Steph Curry, while his all-time favorites include Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

Kevin holds Coach K in high regard for the large input he's had on the game helping mold players across multiple generations. Kevin believes the iconic rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson helped elevate the league to its current status.

Through his writing, Kevin provides in-depth analysis and insights into player and coach quotes. He prioritizes sourcing information from credible and reliable outlets.

Kevin enjoys reading, aiming to finish at least one book per month, and he is a big fan of music.

Know More

Grizzlies Nation! You can check out the latest Memphis Grizzlies Schedule and dive into the Grizzlies Depth Chart for NBA Season 2024-25.

Edited by Kevin McCormick